[17]
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Siya woke up to a room filled with her best friends and sisters. As she opened her eyes, her brother sat beside her, gently stroking her hair.
"Kaisa lag raha hai ab?" Reyansh asked, touching her forehead.
[How are you feeling now?]
"Thik lag raha abhi." She said and sat down properly.
[I am fine.]
"Room me kaise aa gaye? Hall me so rahe the na ham?" She asked, confused.
[How did I came in room? We were sleeping in hall.]
"Haa, we have brought you here." Ritika said.
"But ye to room to bade papa ne liya hua tha?" She asked, looking at everyone.
[But this room was for uncle I guess.]
"So? Bhand me jayen sab. When you were burning in fever and we needed their help they didn't even care to check on you . So why should we care about their comfort? Tu yahi rest karegi aur tere sath baki sab bhi." He said, anger dripping from his voice.
[Let them go to hell.]
"You know after knowing this mummy asked us to bring you here when bade papa went shopping with his children and badi badi maa. And she said don't don't leave the room." Ritika said, moving towards her.
Just then they heard a knock on the door. As Ritika opened the door Arav entered inside with Darsh and Akash holding a plate in his hand.
"Siya aunty ne ye sandwich banaya hai..she asked you to have this fast..uske baad medicine bhi Lena hai." Arav said, placing the plate near her while Ritika was looking at him with admiration in her eyes.
[Aunty has made this sandwich for you. Eat this and have your medicine after this.]
"Jaldi thik ho jaa phir we will do more totka." Akash said with a smile caressing her hair and she smiled at him.
"Arre, why are you saying this bhaiya? She is already looking fine. Hai na Didi?" Darsh asked moving towards him and she smiled nodding her head.
Everyone was present there but her eyes were searching for that one person who wasn't present there.
Despite the overwhelming care surrounding her, Siya's eyes searched for Shashwat, her heart sinking as he remained absent.
Her anticipation turned to disappointment, as the small hope in her heart shattered, realising he hadn't even bothered to check on her.
In that moment, her little heart broke, as she had expected no grand gestures but had hoped for a simple acknowledgment of her well-being from him.
"Accha jaa tu pehle brush to kar le." Ritika said breaking her thoughts and she nodded and headed towards the washroom.
[Go and brush your teeth first.]
As Siya took her medicine after lunch, a subtle sadness clung to her expression. Arushi, known to her friend's emotions, observed the fallen face and sensed the unspoken sadness.
"Where is Shashwat bhaiya?" She turned to Akash, inquiring.
"He's been out since morning, handling catering arrangements with a relative for the tilak ceremony." He replied and she looked at Siya blinking her eyes smiling and she also smiled at her.
Siya let out a sigh, a mix of relief and understanding. The knowledge that Shashwat was engaged in important family responsibilities, reassured that his absence wasn't because of ignorance.
Siya, feeling better after a shower, moved downstairs, locking her room behind her. The house hummed with activity - Ritika and Richa were in the kitchen preparing tea . Arushi and Divya efficiently attended to orders and relatives' needs. Akash and Arav, engaged in outside errands.
"Arushi beta toothpaste khatam ho gaya hai mere.. give me a toothpaste." One of the relatives asked Arushi.
"Aap lekar hi kab aate hain kabhi." She muttered under her breath but gave a tight lipped smile to him saying,
[When did you brought your toothpaste.]
"Ji fufa ji abhi laayi."
She entered the kitchen and her mother moved towards her touching her forehead.
"Fever to nahi hai ab. Are you feeling well now?" She asked, concerned.
"Haan mumma. Just a little weakness." She replied with a weak smile.
"Weakness hogi hi.. Siya go and sit mai apple kaat ke laati hun tere liye." Ashi said caressing her cheeks and she nodded.
[I will bring apple for you.]
"I can't believe this jiji ham sab bahar kya gaye kuch logon ne apne asli rang dikha diye. A child was burning with fever but some people just didn't care." Archana, Tara's younger sister said, giving a look to some of the women present there.
[Some people showed their true colours when we went outside.]
"What do you mean? Tara sees how your sister is taunting us. I didn't know about this. We were in a deep slumber." One of the women said.
"Haan badi mummy you were in so much deep slumber that your and bade Papa's ears were also not working jo itna jada knock karne aur awaz dene ke baad bhi nahi sunai diya." Ritika said and her mother held her hand, acting her to keep quiet.
"Tara dekh rahi ho apni beti ko? What are you teaching to your daughter?? " She asked in anger.
"At Least she has taught me to help others when they need it." She said and moved out from the kitchen holding the tray of cups and Richa followed her holding another tray leaving her fuming in anger as she started taunting her indirectly.
"Siya tu jaa ke baith jaa ke no need to listen to the rants of useless people." Archana said and she nodded moving out from the kitchen.
Amidst the whirlwind of preparations, Tara forcefully made Siya to eat two apples and made her drink one glass of milk. Siya, who had been roaming in the house as others, immersed themselves in their works.
Just then, Shashwat unexpectedly appeared before her. They were about to collide but composed themselves and took one step back. While their eyes meet in a silent exchange.
Shashwat, concerned for Siya, instinctively lifted his hand to check her forehead for any lingering fever. However, a thoughtful pause intervened as he reconsidered the appropriateness of physical contact, withdrawing his hand with respect for boundaries while she just looked down.
"How are you now? And why are you roaming here instead of taking a rest? " Breaking the silence, Shashwat asked.
"I am fine." She replied with a smile touched by his concerned filled eyes.
Before the conversation could delve further, someone called Shashwat . Giving her a last glance he left from there.
In a quiet moment, Ritika perched on the stairs, engrossed in scribbling something in her notebook. Arav, ascending the staircase, furrowed his brows upon seeing her, a perplexed expression etched on her face as she scratched her head in confusion.
"What happened? Why are you sitting here?"He asked as he approached her.
"Actually Kanji ankh Today is the last date for our chemistry assignment, and I completely forgot about it." She explained biting the pen's cap in tension and she looked at him curiously and asked to him,
"Did you finish yours?"
"Yes, finished and submitted it before coming here."Arav replied and she looked down.
"I thought they'd extend the date like they usually do." she confessed.
"Well, that's your fault na." He replied with a straight face while Ritika made a face in response.
He seated himself beside her on the stairs, surprising her as she looked at him.
"What's the problem? Why are you having trouble finishing it?" he asked, offering an unexpected willingness to help.
Ritika, with a pout on her face, shared her assignment problem with Arav. In a gesture of understanding, he took the notebook from her hand.
"Have you brought this notebook from Mumbai?"
"I asked Akash to bring this for me." She replied while Arav nodded, flipping the notebook open and starting to jot down something.
As he concentrated on the task at hand, Ritika found herself captivated by the focused expression on his face. After a long minute of silently watching him, she couldn't resist commenting,
"Your eyes are so attractive."
Arav, taken aback, shot her a shocked expression. Ritika cheekily winked at him, leaving him to assume she was playing another prank.
Rolling his eyes, Arav composed himself and proceeded to explain the assignment in detail.
After Arav patiently explained the assignment and Ritika successfully completed it, he rose to leave as she thanked him. However, before he could take a step, she called him from behind.
"Arav." She said moving towards him and he turned to her with confusion.
With a deep breath, she uttered those three words,
"I love you."
The confession hung in the air, leaving Arav momentarily shocked and unable to react. Minutes passed before he could overcome the surprise, and he asked cautiously,
"Are you playing another prank?"
"No, I'm serious. I've never been this serious in my whole life," she affirmed, her words carrying a weight of honesty while he just looked at her blankly not knowing what to reply.
"I know this might seem sudden..par pata nahi kyun abhi bas man kiya kehne ka, I fell for you, Arav." She said moving towards him.
Arav, still processing the revelation, listened intently as Ritika continued,
"I fell for your eyes, the way they hold stories and depth. I fell for your nature, the kindness and understanding you show. But most importantly, I fell for you because you're the only one, aside from my sisters, who listens to all my rants and tolerates all my nonsense."
As Ritika poured her heart out, Arav stared at her with a blank expression, absorbing the unexpected confession.
"Ritika, I respect your feelings, but I don't share the same sentiments. It's not something I've ever considered." He replied after a moment of silence.
"I knew that. I just needed to get it off my chest. It felt like a burden, and now that I've confessed, I feel lighter."She said with a smile.
Arav, still processing the revelation, remained silent.
"Don't worry, Arav. I'm sure I'll make you fall for me eventually." Ritika said with a twinkle in her eye. She winked at him and gracefully left, leaving him standing there in a state of confusion.
"And then bhaiya brought medicine for you traveling 50 kilometres in heavy rain. I can't believe this yaar!!" Arushi told her friend every detail as they finally got their private friend time.n
"Haan and he was so worried..Maine bahot saalon baad unhe itne gusse me dekha tha jab wo unn relatives par gussa huye the. And he brought wet cloth for you." Richa said and she looked at her surprised.
[I saw him in anger after a long time.]
"Siya I am telling you.. Bhaiya tere pyar me gir rahe hain. Pehle handwritten notes and now this." Arushi said winking at her and she blushed as whole zoo danced inside her stomach.
[Bhaiya is falling in love with you.]
"I should thank him na?" She said and they nodded.
"Great then I will thank him giving him a handwritten note." She said and stood to get a copy but Arushi holds her hand and made her sit on bed.
"Yaar ab to directly baat kar jaa ke. Aise to tum dono ki gadi letters pe hi atki rahegi. You should thank him personally." Richa said slapping on her forehead lightly.
[Go and talk to him. ]
"Hatt!! Hame sharam aati hai." She said covering her face with palms and they both hits their forehead.
[I feel shy.]
"Haan tu sharmati reh aur wo kanak pata legi bhaiya ko." Arushi said and she looked at her in horrified expression.
[Then keep shying and that kanak will impress him.]
"Why are you saying like this?" She asked with a frown.
"So how should I say? Siya he had done a lot for you. Atleast ek samne se thank you to wo bhi deserve karte hain." Arushi said and she nodded.
"Okk then..But..hame to soch ke bhi sharam aa rahi hai." She said blushing and her friends shook their heads.
In the evening , Siya came downstairs gazing at Shashwat who was standing near the entrance of the palace busy ironing his clothes and after some time there was a bundle of clothes near him as almost everyone gave him a task to iron their clothes and Shashwat being Shashwat accepted it happily.
"Hey bhagwan! How to thank him ? Hamari to sitti pitti gul ho jati hai unke samne jate hi.
But I have to gather courage. I should practice for it.
.'Thank you so much Shashwat.' Chee kitna ganda tha ye.
How could I take his name ? Wo kya sochenge mere baare me!
And what if he told me to call him bhaiya!
! Hey bhagwan! Meri to love story shuru hone se pehle hi khatam ho jayegi.
Siya! Take a deep breath!" She said taking a deep breath and walked near him taking slow steps.
Siya walked up to Shashwat and stood beside him, facing away. She began folding the clothes ensuring no one noticed their conversation.
Shashwat furrows his brow as he notices Siya folding the ironed clothes, puzzled by the unusual sight. Knowing she isn't typically one for chores.
"Ahmm wo.." she said in a low voice, gaining his attention.
"Kuch kehna hai?" He asked not looking at her and acted like he was busy ironing the clothes .
[Want to say anything?]
"Haan.. wo.. Didi ne bataya ki aap hamare liye medicine lene barish me 50 kilometre gaye the. So I just wanted to thank you for that." She said in one breath.
[Didi told me that you have brought medicine for me traveling 50 km]
"Ok ok saans le lo ab. Itna nervous hone ki zarurat nahi hai. Aur accha hai that I brought medicine for you.. at least tumne baat to ko mujhse" He said with a small smile while Siya was surprised to hear this and she felt her stomach doing some flipping.
[Take a deep breath now. And it's good for me that I have brought medicine for you. Atleast you talked to me?]
"Aap hamse kyun baat karna chahte hain?" She asked curiously.
[Why do you want to talk to me?]
"Umm Vause no need to say thank you." He said changing the topic.
"Still..My relatives and cousins didn't care about me when I was unwell and you being a stranger to me still you did a lot. Itna koi nahi karta." She said, her voice dripped in gratitude.
Shashwat, though touched by her words, felt a pang in his heart at being labelled a stranger.
"Am I a stranger to you?" He asked in a little sad voice.
"Not exactly..Ham jante hain par because of our families..but personally we don't know each other na." She replied after thinking for a second caressing the clothes.
A brief hesitation lingered in the air as Shashwat processed her response. Then, blushing slightly, he suggested,
"Well, ye to ham badal sakte hain. Get to know each other personally."
[We can change that.]
Siya, caught off guard by the unexpected proposal, felt her heart quicken . She turned her head slightly looking at his head but as he also turned his head towards her she again turned her head .
"H..Haan," she stammered, her surprise evident. Composing herself, she managed to find the words,a subtle blush tinting her cheeks.
[Y.. yes]
Shashwat, a hint of shyness colouring his cheeks, coughed slightly .
"Par uske liye aksar milna padega na?" He asked, clutching the iron tightly as he knew how much courage he had to gain for asking her.
[But we have to meet frequently for that.]
Siya's heart fluttered in happiness at his proposal. It was something she had wanted since starting but never expected to hear this from him. Composing herself, she smiled Mischievously.
"Par , hum milte to hain na daily. I mean we are staying at this palace together and meet daily." She asked in an innocent voice but with a playful smile.
Shashwat, perceptive to the playfulness in Siya's innocent voice, couldn't help but smile, his gaze momentarily lowering.
""I... I mean, we meet in front of everyone..Mai..you know..I mean sirf mai aur tum." Stammering slightly, he expressed.
Siya, her cheeks now adorned in a vibrant shade of red, mirrored his embarrassment. Feeling a sudden rush of warmth, she gently placed the clothes on the table, intending to excuse herself.
But she felt a sudden halt as Shashwat, with a gentle grace, intertwined his small finger with hers but still not turning towards her as his one hand was still holding the iron, and his gaze was fixed on the clothes.
In that fleeting moment, her heartbeat quickened, and a symphony of butterflies seemed to flutter inside her stomach. The unexpected touch, though small, sent a wave of sensations through her, and she couldn't help but flinch slightly.
As for Shashwat, he found himself in a similar whirlwind of emotions.
Uncertain yet determined, he had gathered the courage to initiate this subtle gesture.
The contact of their small fingers created an electrifying sensation, and his heart raced at an abnormal speed.
It was a moment of unspoken connection, a simple touch that seemed to bridge the gap between them in a way words couldn't capture.
"Jawab to deti jao." He asked .
[Atleast answer me .]
Siya, feeling too shy to say anything, withdrew her finger and rushed inside. But she stopped at her place and turned towards him and she registered the disappointment etched across Shashwat's face.
A moment of hesitation hung in the air before she shouted,
"Haaaaaannn" She shouted as if answering a call, though her response was meant for him
[Yesssss.]
While those around might have believed she was responding to someone else, Shashwat, looked directly at her as he got his answer. She smiled shyly before running inside while he rubbed his neck, looking down, smiling shyly.
As time passed, the entire gathering converged in the hall, where the elders engaged in discussions regarding the upcoming tilak ceremony scheduled for the next day.
Meanwhile, the younger generation gathered together.
Amidst this setting, Arushi took charge, skillfully cutting apples for Siya.
However, Siya's attention seemed to be drawn towards Shashwat.
With every stolen glance she cast his way, he, quite intentionally, intercepted each one, catching her off guard.
His playful response left Siya both embarrassed and flustered, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
However others exchanged knowing glances at each other as they noticed them. Reyansh, however, remained blissfully unaware of everything.
Their exchange of glances broke as they heard Akash's voice.
"Ritika Di..Mujhe na ek song yaad aa gaya achanak." He said, gaining everyone's attention.
[I remembered a song.]
"Which song?" Ritika asked, raising her eyebrows and Akash started singing.
"Chaya hai jo dil pe kya nasha hai, Aisa lag raha hai pyar ho raha hai." he glanced at Shashwat and Siya who quickly averted their gazes as they both looked down in a flustered response. Shashwat shot him a glare, while Siya, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue, tried to maintain composure.
"And I also remembered one song." Ritika said and Akash asked her to sing.
"Do dil mil rahe hain, magar chupke - chupke. Sabko ho rahi hai, haan sabko ho rahi hai, khabar..chupke chupke hoooo." She continued singing while Siya hit her hand secretly.
"Why are you hitting me? Gana hi to gaa rahi hun. Kya problem hai?" She asked in an innocent voice, earning a glare from her sister and then Arushi also starting singing.
While Siya and Shashwat were looking at their feet, they were not able to look at each other . In an attempt to escape the playful banter, they turned their attention to their phones.
"Aise bhole ban kar hain baithe, jaise koi baat nahi.." Arushi sang the lyrics and after her Richa continued.
"Sab kuch nazar aa raha hai, din hai ye raat nahi." Richa then gestured to Divya to continue.
"Kya hai? Kuch bhi nahi hai agar..Hoton pe hai khamoshi magar." She continued while they both moved their gaze from mobiles and their eyes met once again. It was a fleeting glance, filled with a mix of embarrassment and shyness .
While Darsh started singing the remaining lines looking at them with a playful smile.
"Baatein kar rahi hain, nazar chupke chupke."
Siya and Shashwat, their cheeks now adorned with a deeper shade of red, hurriedly shifted their focus to their phones, attempting to hide the evidence of their shared glances.
"Do dil mil rahe hain..Magar chupke chupke." others joined in singing the remaining lines together.
While, Arav struggled to contain his laughter, glancing at his flustered brother. On the other hand, Reyansh, unaware of the actual reason, simply smiled, thinking it was all part of a joyful song.
Kanak observed the exchanged glances between Siya and Shashwat, sensing the teasing and connection. A mix of jealousy and insecurity stirred in her mind.
Standing from her place she made her way towards Shashwat, sitting beside him and subtly shifting the conversation.
"Shashwat, could you help me with something related to my syllabus?" She showed him her phone, the syllabus displayed on the screen.
Shashwat, wearing a friendly smile, obligingly started explaining the syllabus-related question to Kanak.
However, his attention remained divided.
While he engaged in conversation with Kanak, his eyes secretly moved to Siya, casting secret glances in her direction while Siya was throwing sharp glares at Kanak's direction as if she would eat her raw.
As Shashwat helped Kanak with her studies, Akash and Darsh began bitching about her whispering among each other.
"Ye kalank ki bacchi!! Accha khasa moment chal raha tha usme taang ghusana zaruri tha isse?" Siya whispered to Arushi while stuffing the slice of apple in her mouth.
"Exactly yaar!! It was looking like we were watching a movie..bhaiya was looking so flustered and you too. Ab to maan jaa ki he also feels something for you." Richa whispered from the other side, making her cheeks red.
"Hum nahi jante." She said looking down at the plate.
"Jada ban mat tu ab." Arushi whispered and she grinned.
"You know....." She was about to reveal that Shashwat had asked to meet her alone when a sudden realisation struck her that this was their tiny secret, an intimate detail shared between just the two of them.
And maybe Shashwat also won't like to tell this to anyone.
She recognized the value of privacy and the unspoken bond they shared.
Instead of unveiling the secret, she thought to ask Shashwat's permission first before telling them.
"What?? Kisi ne pause ka button daba diya kya jo aise ruk gayi hai?" Arushi asked, looking at her kneely.
"Wo..Hum bhul gaye! Let's go to the garden for sometime" She said and they walked towards the garden after she kept the plate of apples inside the kitchen.
Under the veil of night, the kitchen buzzed with activity as everyone contributed to the food preparations. Siya approached Ritika and Arushi, who were diligently crafting rotis. Shashwat stood nearby, skillfully cutting salad, Richa arranged plates with precision, and Akash lent a helping hand.
"Didi ham banayen roti?" She asked in a chirpy voice.
[Should I make roti?]
"Koi zarurat nahi hai. Mai nahi chahti ki sab jali hui roti khayen." Ritika said with a mocking smile.
[There is no need. I don't want that everyone get to eat burned roti.]
"Arre let me try." She whined looking at her with puppy eyes and Ritika sighed.
As Siya took a handful of dough, she shaped the roti in comically irregular proportions, drawing laughter from Ritika and the others.
Shashwat, observing with amusement, shook his head and chuckled.
In the midst of the mirth, Siya placed her creation on the hot pan, only to realise moments later that it was burned now.
"Ye kis country ka map hai siya?" Akash asked, making her pout and everyone chuckled .
[This is map of which country.]
"Ab tu bhag yaha se. Go and arrange the plates." She said and she went towards the plates.
"Behen tu rehne de..tu arrange karne lagi to kha chuke sab phir." Richa said as she was going to drop a plate on the floor.
As the night settled in, the aroma of the prepared food enveloped the kitchen, and the call to the dining area echoed through the house. The rule was set - children would eat first, followed by the elders. Everyone took their respective places around the dining table.
"Didi aapki wo India ke map vali roti kahan gayi?" Divya asked with a mischievous smile and she glared at her.
"How would I know?" She said.
"Oh, kis bechare ke paas gayi hogi wo mahan roti." Ritika said in a dramatic voice making others chuckle. Siya, catching on to the teasing, playfully hit them for making fun of her attempt.
In the midst of all the laughter and chatter, Shashwat quietly held onto the piece of burned roti he had sneakily taken.
For him, it wasn't about the burnt part - it was special because it was Siya's first try, it was a symbol of sincerity and effort.
He found a unique charm in its imperfections, appreciating the genuine attempt it represented.